Japan’s two most famous Buddha statues couldn’t be more different.

 

Japan’s two most famous Buddha statues couldn’t be more different.

The Great Buddha of Nara (Tōdai-ji)

Nara Prefecture

Height: approximately 15 metres

The larger of the two sits inside one of the world’s largest wooden buildings. For over 1,200 years, it has been one of Japan’s most important religious and cultural landmarks.

The Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kōtoku-in)

Kanagawa Prefecture

Height: approximately 11.3 metres

Unlike Nara’s Buddha, Kamakura’s sits beneath the open sky. The temple hall that once surrounded it was destroyed centuries ago, leaving the statue exposed to the elements ever since.

Both are among Japan’s most visited Buddhist sites, yet the experience of standing before each one feels completely different.

Japan Essence